AN INTERVIEW WITH IGLOOGHOST

IGLOOGHOST is one of the most exciting new electronic music producers to pop up in recent years, releasing his debut album Neō Wax Bloom last week on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. His songs are a frenetic, always-shifting style, never content to stay in one place for too long — a style/tendency best exemplified by his recent single “Bug Thief.” In anticipation of the release of his album, I emailed him a few questions for an interview. He was very particular about some of the terms of his interview, but seemed excited (and perhaps a little sardonic), considering the all-caps responses.

Ted: How did the storytelling and art come about in pairing with the music, and how do their aesthetics and styles inform each other? What were your main inspirations for the characters and worlds with this particular album’s stories?

IGLOOGHOST: IT’S ALL REAL. I MET THE BEINGS INSIDE A PORTAL IN MY GARDEN!

T: There’s a lot of styles and sounds noticeable in your work ranging from IDM to breakbeat, even to touches of grime. Who are some of your biggest specific inspirations and how does their work kind of commingle into your more universal sound?

IG: IT’S ALL AN AMALGAMATION OF MY ITUNES I SUPPOSE. IF U THREW IT ALL INTO A BLENDER IT’D PROLLY SOUND LIKE MY ALBUM.

T: What are some of the first steps you take in building an individual song (other than what was detailed in your very entertaining “How To Make an Iglooghost Song” video), considering the amount of time it probably takes to make an overall track?

IG: THERE’S NEVER RLLY A SOLID PROCESS TO IT TBH. SOMETIMES A MELODY, SOMETIMES SOME WEIRD DRUMS. THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS THAT IT RARELY GETS ANYWHERE LIKE 8/10 TIMES HAHAHA.

T: Finally, any advice to people aspiring to make music of their own?

IG: MAKE THE STUFF U WISH ALREADY EXISTS!

Neō Wax Bloom is available now on whatever streaming service, online music retailer, or hyperdimensional portal you have access to. It’s certainly an interesting record, building off the wild, non-stop stylings of his previous Chinese Nu Yr EP. Tracks like “Super Ink Burst” and “White Gum” find unique ways to build on the existing style he’s become so good at while incorporating new and surprising sounds like the saxophone on the former track.

Meanwhile songs like “Infinite Mint” manage to take down the tempo while still remaining characteristically consistent with everything else. Overall, it’s a fantastic album and I’d personally say it’s one of my favorite electronic records of the year. Give it a chance for yourself and you might be surprised by its wonderful idiosyncrasies. Thanks again to IGLOOGHOST for taking the time for a few questions.